Programs

Four programs, one focus: African technology law.

Each ACTPOL program is led by lawyers and policy specialists who publish research, advise government, and convene the people who carry the statutory pen.

Tech Law and Policy

Doctrinal and comparative legal research on the statutes, regulations, and case law that shape how technology is built and used in Africa.

Current workstreams

Data protection and cross-border data transfers
Platform liability, content regulation, and online safety
Digital identity, biometrics, and electronic transactions
Cybersecurity, cybercrime, and incident reporting

Innovation Policy

Research and recommendations on the legal infrastructure that supports African start-ups, research, and access to digital tools.

Current workstreams

Regulatory sandboxes for fintech, healthtech, and AI
Intellectual property regimes and software protection
Public procurement of digital infrastructure
Access to spectrum, undersea cables, and cloud services

Realigning Technology to the African Context

Work on how borrowed legal frameworks should be adapted, or replaced, to fit African economies, institutions, and constitutional traditions.

Current workstreams

Adequacy and equivalence assessments for African data laws
Translating model laws into workable national statutes
Customary law, plural legal orders, and digital systems
Capacity building for African legislative drafting offices

Surveillance and National Security

Constitutional and statutory analysis of state surveillance powers, oversight mechanisms, and rights-based safeguards.

Current workstreams

Communications interception and judicial authorisation
Bulk powers, metadata, and data retention regimes
Oversight of intelligence and security agencies
Emergency powers and the rule of law